Palais de Marbre

The Palais de Marbre, also known as Marble Palace, is a palace and historic building in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, situated atop a hill in the Ngaliema Commune within the residential neighborhood of Ma Campagne, located a few miles from Mont-Fleury. The complex serves as a guest residence during specific official visits and is accessible to the general public, housing an exhibition that chronicles the history of Laurent-Désiré Kabila's assassination.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

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Palais de Marbre
Alternative names	Marble Palace
General information
Architectural style	Hypermodern
Town or city	Ngaliema, Kinshasa
Country	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Completed	1970; 54 years ago (1970)
Owner	Joseph Kabila
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Eugène Palumbo and Fernand Tala N'Gai

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The inception of the Palais de Marbre dates back to 1970 when Governor Albert Ndele Bamu of the National Bank of the Congo initiated its construction. Originally conceived as an "official residence" for himself within the Binza hills of Ngaliema commune, the design process was entrusted to Eugène Palumbo and Fernand Tala N'Gai's design team, renowned for their work on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs complex and the Supreme Court.^[6][7][8] The resulting structure adopted a hypermodern, circular design that incorporated segments of the surrounding garden and prominently featured marble imported from an Italian quarry, with a statue of a prodigious lion at its main entrance.^[7][9] The design, in harmony with the site's topography, was said to resemble the map of the Congo. Ndele was named Minister of Finance in September 1970 (considered a demotion), then dismissed in 1971.^[10][11][12] Although the Bank claimed the property in its inventory, the Marble Palace was confiscated by President Mobutu Sese Seko, who converted it into one of his opulent palaces and a guesthouse for high-ranking visitors,^[8] including the U.S. National Security Advisor, Henry Alfred Kissinger in April 1976.^[13][14][15]

Following the downfall of Mobutu Sese Seko in 1997, Laurent-Désiré Kabila took up residence in the palace. Tragically, on 16 January 2001, Laurent-Désiré Kabila was shot in the chest by one of his bodyguards.^[16][17] On 13 February 2001, Nelson Mandela visited the palace during his discussions with the new DRC President, Joseph Kabila, regarding regional peace.^[18][19]

The palace remains the residence of the Kabila family and occasionally hosts specific official visits. An exhibition within the palace provides a comprehensive account of Laurent-Désiré Kabila's assassination.^[20][21]

The Marble Palace is open to the public for two days a year: 16 January and 17 January, nationally recognized as "the days of the martyrs."^{[1][22][23][21]} These days are dedicated to the memory of two martyrs, Patrice Émery Lumumba, assassinated in Lubumbashi on 17 January 1961, and Laurent-Désiré Kabila, assassinated at the Marble Palace on 16 January 2001. The Palace has meticulously preserved historical artifacts, including the bloodstained chair on which Laurent-Désiré Kabila was shot. Parenthetically, it exhibits a collection of photographs documenting Laurent-Désiré Kabila's political journey, from his time in Les maquis to his eventual rise to power on 17 May 1997. Various works of art, honoring his legacy, also adorn the palace.^{[1][22][24][21][25]}